Shelf bracket



Patented July 28, 1942 SHELF BRACKET gan Application February 17, 1941,Serial No. 379,210

4 Claims.

This invention relates to shelf brackets. In furniture of various kindssupports for the ends of shelves in a case or cabinet are used. In thestore furnishing field it is common to use adjustable shelf supportingbrackets so that the shelves in the cabinet may be located at differentheights and at different distances from each other.

It is also becoming prevalent in the store furnishing field to useillumination in connection with the cases or cabinets which holdmerchandise to have the merchandise better seen and observed. Theillumination may be at the top of the case or as more generally used atthe front and top of the case. Under either of such conditions it isdesirable that the light shall not be obstructed by the shelves; andthere has come into use, and one which is increasing, glass shelveswhich being transparent permit the passage of light where shelves ofwood or other opaque material would defeat such purpose.

Shelves of glass, because of the nature of the material, are noisierthan wood when used with metal supporting brackets. Also the engagementof the glass material with metal is almost frictionless so that theshelf is quickly and readily moved from position and in such movementsnoise and rattling occurs to a considerable degree.

It is a primary object and purpose of my invention to provide a shelfsupporting bracket which is particularly useful in supporting shelves ofglass or like hard material with an elimination of noise and aproduction of friction engagement against the shelf which will stop easychanges of position or movements of the shelves. At the same time theconstruction which I have devised prevents the shelves from tilting as,for example, with a shelf extending at its forward edge a distancebeyond the shelf supporting brackets when pressure or weight is appliedat the upper side and forward portions of the shelf. Such a condition asdescribed has caused the shelves at their rear portions to lift upwardlyand with my invention this is obviated.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through a cabinet and through ashelf mounted therein, the shelf bracket being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section through one end of thecabinet, the shelf bracket being shown in plan.

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary vertical sections 4-4 of Fig. 1, the viewsbeing in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shelf bracket.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawing.

The shelf bracket which I have devised is made of flat metal in angleform having a horizontal ledge I from one edge of which a vertical leg 2extends upwardly. At each end of the leg 2 the metal is continued andturned at right angles making a lip 3 at the inner upper corner of whichit is extended into a finger 4. Adjacent one end of the leg 2 and at itsupper edge an integral tongue 5 of metal is bent at right angles to lieover the ledge l substantially parallel thereto.

In the lower ledge I openings are pierced and rubber members areconnected at each of said openings. Each of said members comprises athin head 6 preferably of circular outline with a downwardly extendingstem 7 which is pressed through an opening in the ledge I. The exteriordiameter of the head 6 is such that portions thereof coming to thevertical leg 2 are bent upwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Over thetongue 5 a sleeve 8 of rubber is placed, it being stretched and extendedso as to grip the tongue and lie snugly against its upper and lowersides and its front and rear edges.

Shelf brackets of this kind are adapted to be used in store furniture ofthe type shown in Patent No. 2,208,237, granted July 16, 1940. As shown,the ends 9 of the caibnet carcass or chassis are provided with aplurality of vertical spaced apart U-shaped supporting strips ID ofsheet metal which are embedded in said ends of the cabinet in spacedrelation to each other and provide supporting elements with which theparts 3 and 4 may be detachably associated and engaged as shown in Fig.3. The end edge portions of a glass shelf l2 are adapted to be placedover the ledge I, rest upon the heads 6 of the rubber members andpreferably at the rear pass underneath the rubber covering 8 on thetongue 5. It is evident that the glass does not contact with metal atany place. It rests upon the heads 6 and the edge parts thereof whichare bent upwardly short distances along the leg 2, come against thelower portion of the end edges of the shelves I2 and separate such endsof the shelf from the vertical leg of the shelf support.

While we have shown the shelf support as of a length to extend betweenthe front and rear sheet metal supporting members It! and have shown ashelf of a width to extend from the rear substantially on the planes oflines 33 and of the cabinet practically to the front opening therein, inpractice in a great many instances the shelf supporting brackets are ofa length such that they engage with the rear and intermediate membersIt]. The glass shelves in such case may be of several widths and in manyinstances extend beyond the front ends of the shelf supporting brackets.Pressure upon the front extended portion of a shelf either appliedmanually or from the Weight of merchandise will cause the rear portionof the shelf to press against the under side of the rubber coveringsleeve 8, the shelf being held from tilting.

When the shelf is passed underneath the rubber covering 8 of the tongue5, such covering is compressed slightly making a binding engagement,thereby holding the shelf in position against all normal forces whichmight otherwise act to cause it to move and change position.

The construction is of a simple nature but very practical and useful andeffective for the purposes for which it has been designed. It is inextensive commercial use.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A shelf support comprising, an angle bar of fiat metal having ahorizontal ledge and a vertical leg at one edge thereof, means formounting said shelf support upona support, said vertical leg adjacentone end thereof having a tongue of metal at its upper edge extendingtherefrom over and substantially parallel to said ledge, and a rubbersleeve around said tongue, for the purposes described.

2. A shelf support comprising, an angle bar made from flat metal havinga horizontal ledge and a vertical leg at one edge thereof, said legbeing provided with an integral tongue at its upper edge extendingtherefrom over the ledge and substantially parallel thereto, a sleeve ofelastic sound deadening anti-friction material located around thetongue, and a plurality of members of like material connected to theledge at spaced points in the length thereof, each including a thinlayer of said material located over and extending above the upper sideof said ledge.

3. A shelf support comprising, an angle bar of fiat metal having ahorizontal ledge and a vertical leg extending upwardly from one edge ofsaid ledge, said leg at its upper edge and toward one end being providedwith an integral tongue extending therefrom over and substantiallyparallel to the ledge, a sleeve of elastic sound deadening materialaround said tongue, said ledge having a plurality of spaced openingstherethrough, and a plurality of members made of elastic sound deadeningmaterial, each having a stem inserted through an opening in the ledgeand a thin head lying above and over the ledge.

4. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 3, each of said heads being of a size that an edge portion thereofcomes to said vertical leg of the angle bar and is turned upwardlythereagainst, as and for the purposes specified.

EARL L. CLOUSE.

